UPDATED 6:29 pm, Fri Dec 13, 2013. COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WAAY) – Authorities have charged a woman with animal cruelty after finding 4 dead dogs outside her home and more than 120 dogs on her property earlier this week.
Debra Jane Catledge
Debra Jane Catledge, 53, is charged with 15 counts of second-degree dog cruelty. Catledge was released from the Colbert County Jail on a $750 cash bond. She could face a year in jail on each misdemeanor count or a fine.
Earlier this week, animal control officers rescued a total of 122 Yorkies and Pomeranians from Catledge’s home on Highway 72 in Barton. Authorities said the dogs were in wire cages out in the freezing weather. They also found 2 dead dogs.
On Thursday, the Colbert County Sheriff’s office executed a search warrant at Catledge’s home and found 2 more dead dogs, 6 live dogs, and illegal moonshine in a barn.
Sheriff Ronnie May said Catledge told investigators she took numerous other dogs out of state but will not say where.
“We’re in the process of locating her residence out of state and another family residence out of state to see if the additional dogs that she had are at those locations” said May,
May said more charges are expected in the next week for the moonshine found on the property.
Staff and volunteers at the Colbert County Animal Shelter are grooming and performing medical examinations on 122 Yorkies and Pomeranians rescued from a home on Tuesday.
Investigators rescue 122 dogs from alleged Colbert County puppy mill
COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WAAY) – On Tuesday, Colbert County Animal Control officers and the sheriff‘s department seized 122 Yorkies and Pomeranians found outside a home on Hwy 72 in the Barton community.
Colbert County Animal Control Director Judie Nichols said her office received a tip from a concerned citizen that the small dogs were being kept outside in the cold.
Animal control officers responded to the complaint around 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday and found two dead dogs frozen to their wire cages. Investigators spent several hours at the home taking pictures of all the animals that also included 2 exotic birds.
The dogs were housed in wire cages 3 to 4 feet off the ground. Nichols said the dogs were in good condition as a whole but the biggest concern was their exposure to the freezing temperatures.
“They were wet some of them and they had ice on their fur” said Nichols. “They were just very cold, huddled up, just cold.”
The shelter is now over capacity with more than 200 animals after taking in the dogs and more are expected since over 25 are pregnant.
“The owner was overwhelmed” said Nichols. “I think she went way overboard. She had way more than she could care for. It’s obvious she was breeding them.”
Staff and volunteers are busy grooming and performing medical evaluations on all the dogs which could take a few days. Nichols said they are also scanning each dog for a microchip to make sure none were stolen.
The shelter is not accepting any animals from the public until they can start adopting out the animals but are still responding to animal control calls.
“If they find a stray, we would like to ask for their patience and their understanding” said Nichols.
Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said the district attorney is waiting for all the dogs to be evaluated before deciding if animal cruelty charges will be filled against the owner. No charges have been filled at this time.
It could be several days before the dogs are available for adoption. The birds were signed over by the owner and have been adopted.
Investigators said other animals including horses were found on the property but appeared to be well cared for.
“Puppy Mill dogs, are literally dying to give you a puppy!!
Please don’t get a puppy from the above, as you will be supporting the confinement of a dog, kept in a small cage for most of its adult life, with only one purpose, to have as many babies as possible! Puppy’s that come from puppy mills can be very poorly, their parents are treated appallingly. The lack of proper food, water, sunshine, even exercise…means the parents lack the nutrients to pass to their babies. They are force bred until they are of no more use; then they are either given away or thrown out with the trash…their owners will not pay to feed a dog that has stopped producing puppies; it’s lost income!”
“One place you can get a healthy dog from, who has had his shots etc. is a shelter…why not rescue a cute dog like Billy! They have so much to give, they just want to love & be loved; please give them a second chance, give them the gift of life!”
“He had been locked in that cage for so long, the bars had rusted shut—but his life changed when his rescuer, Adam, pried the bars open and gave him a second chance,” the organization says.
Bill’s story is part of the HSUS’s “Be a Hero” holiday campaign, with a goal of raising $1.5M to help other animals like Billy escape the horrors of puppy mills
Meet Billy, rescued from a North Carolina puppy mill. Please be a hero for other animals like Billy by making a donation today:http://www.humanesociety.org/hero2.
Two people are in custody in a massive dog abuse case in Screven County.
Dawn Hudson and Denny Corder face 115 counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty, and Corder is also charged with a probation violation.
Dawn Hudson, Denny Corder (Source: Screven County Sheriff’s Office)
The charges come after investigators found over 30 dogs dead, and over a hundred others malnourished, housed in horrible conditions, with no food, and no water at a Puppy Mill in ScrevenCounty late Tuesday afternoon.
Many of the dogs had also been stolen from their owners.
Screven County Sheriff Mike Kile was astonished at what he saw.
“I’ve never seen such filth, where people just didn’t care about an animal like they did,” said Screven Co. Sheriff Mike Kile. “Half starved, some actually starving, some dogs actually eating from dead animals in the pen with them, no water in the pen, it was just horrible.”
Authorities are looking to find homes for the animals that are not claimed by their owners.
Those will be available for adoption Thursday morning at 10:00am at the Screven County Ag Center on Rocky Ford Road.
“Yet another knob head that needs proper punishment. The SPCA can’t go on holding the hands of these merciless bastards. He knew those poor dogs were living in filth, yet he chose to brush it aside. The poor dogs gave him all the pups they could, they have nothing left to give now…apart from love…& I pray they all get to feel the sun on their backs, the grass under their feet, & the loving tender arms of someone to share their lives with.”
“This man deserves nothing less than a prison sentence (A PROPER ONE) not a suspended one, really, what’s the bloody point in them?. Get his heartless ass kicked in jail & make him pay for the treatment of every one of those poor dogs that gave their whole lives for him…Let him spend the same amount of time, he forced those little dogs to spend locked up in caged…in prison!!”
The owner of the house would face charges of animal cruelty and obstruction of justice, said SPCA Vereeniging manager Marlien Pieterse. “So what’s his name…so we can shame the bastard?”
The small dogs were living in their own faeces and urine. Most of them had few or no teeth left due to a poor diet.
The Meyerton police were called in when the owner of the Riversdale home refused to allow the SPCA access to the property.
“The inspectors tried to educate the owner and numerous warnings have been issued in the past. “Sod the warnings, why give these people a second chance to abuse when you know they have already done it! How many times can they abuse until something is done??”
“The owner chose not to comply nor improve the living conditions of the dogs,” Pieterse said. – Sapa
The animal welfare organisation said this brought the total number of pups seized to 92 in just three days.
The latest discovery includes mainly small breeds, aged between six and 10 weeks.
Gardaí have since released the suspect, pending further enquiries.DSCPA chief executiveBrian Gillen is warning people buying a puppy to be vigilant against trafficking.
This second seizure in a week has to make people aware of the problems of buying from an unreliable source.“Do not buy from the boot of a car or a van and always arrange to meet the puppy with its parents at the breeders home – the conditions the mother is living in is a good indication of the health and welfare of the animals.”
Twenty-five JackRussells and a number of other breeds including Cocker and Springer Spaniels, Terriers, Beagles and Labradors were found inside boxes in the back of the vehicles, which were stopped on the Old Malahide Road
Two men arrested in connection with animal cruelty were subsequently released
Fifty puppies were found in two vehicles in Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday, October 9 after a routine patrol by police (garda) lead to the discovery of a possible dog-smuggling operation.
The Dublin SPCA were called to take in the puppies who had been packed into boxes in the back of the vehicles.
The puppies included Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers and Jack Russell Terriers. A number of the puppies were suffering treatable conditions like mange, ermites, fleas and eye infections. Many of the pups had had their tails docked and dew claws removed resulting in minor infections. A few of the puppies are receiving special care as they were too young to have been removed from their mother’s care.
The men involved were believed to have been trafficking the puppies from Ireland to theUK as part of a puppy smuggling scheme, where the dogs would be sold on the black market for several thousand euros.
Since July 1, dog breeders in Ireland with more than six breeding females are legally obligated to register with their local councils. This is to help facilitate stricter regulations now in place concerning animal welfare. However, none of the puppies rescued were micro-chipped and as a result, tracing the breeders involved is impossible.
The DSPCA is cautioning the public to take extra care when buying a puppy online or from roadsides. CEO Brian Gillen said, “Do not buy from the boot of a car or a van and always arrange to meet the puppy with its parents at the breeders home – the conditions the mother is living in is a good indication of the health and welfare of the animals.”
The DSPCA is also pleading with the public to report any concerns they have for animals they have visited with a view to buying. Head of Media and PR, Gillian Bird, said, “Many people ring us up to report cruelty to a puppy they have recently bought which may have died or be seriously ill. The usual comment is that they felt sorry for the animal and bought it to rescue it. For the welfare of the other animals it would be better to report the seller, their location or car registration number so a full investigation can be carried out.”
All of the puppies will eventually be found new homes. The dogs, which range in age from three to eight weeks, are now in secure accommodation at the DSPCA centre in Rathfarnham, Dublin.
The DSPCA has confirmed that none of the puppies are available for new homes until DSPCA inspectors have concluded their investigations.
“When the dogs are ready to go to new homes, we will put it up on our website and our Facebook page” said Ms Bird. The DSCPA’s website is at www.dspca.ie.
Police in Flower Mound, TX, responded late Monday night, October 1, to calls from local residents that dozens of Maltese-type dogs were loose along a country road near Highway 377 and Stonecrest Road.
Officers rounded up 51 of the frightened little dogs in about an hour, according to NBCNews.com. Some of them were so badly matted they could barely walk.
Tuesday night, 41 more dogs–mostly Cavalier King spaniels–were found abandoned along a rural road near Sanger, about 34 miles north of Flower Mound.
The Humane Society of North Texasbelieves the cases are related. Flower Mound Police Captain Richard Brooks and humane society officials suspect these despicable acts were done by operators of an illegal puppy mill who no longer want to breed the animals after new legislation tightening breeding regulations was passed last month.
“Unfortunately, there are a few of these really bad breeders who know they’re not going to pass inspections and are trying to get out of the business fast,” said Peggy Brown, coordinator of community outreach and education for the Humane Society of North Texas.
The dogs rescued in Flower Mound are being housed in the city’s animal shelter. All of the animals were filthy and appeared to have lived in inhumane conditions but otherwise seem to be healthy.
City animal control officers say they have heard reports of similar dumps elsewhere in the state. It appears to be a tragic side effect ofnew regulationsdesigned to protect the dogs in the breeding industry, comments the Dallas Daily News.
“Unfortunately, with a lot of these puppy mill dogs, their feet may have never touched the ground,” Peggy Brown said. “They could have spent their whole lives in cages.”
Volunteers have been bathing and grooming the dogs for cleanliness and also to relieve the discomfort of those with tightly matted fur, which can be very painful. They will be placed up for adoption next week unless the owner claims them.
“It’s really heartbreaking,” Brown said. “Hopefully, we can change their lot in life and give them a better future than their past has been.”
ABANDONING ANIMALS IS A CRIME!
The Humane Society of North Texas in Forth Worth is offering a $500 reward for information on who dumped the 92 dogs along these country roads in Denton County Monday and Tuesday nights. They can be contacted at 817-332-HSNT.
Flower Mound Police Department is conducting an animal-cruelty investigation and asking for help from the public.
If anyone has information regarding the dumping of the dogs, they are asked to call the Flower Mound Police Department at 972-539-0525 or call CrimeStoppers, anonymously, at 972-874-3307.
“I posted this, way back in February, but have just noticed the video’s were removed??…so here it is again!”
“I’m certainly not trying to convert everyone to become vegetarian…but I do think people should watch this video… as difficult as it is to watch in parts…it is very informative. After viewing it, people are entitled to their own opinions regards the subject matter! I am not telling people what they should or should not eat, it’s a personal preference…I’m merely pointing out the journey, animals take, from field to plate! I will just point out that some things have changed regards animal welfare, since this video was made!”
” I chose to become vegetarian, several years ago, after watching something similar to this…I can’t call myself vegan because I just love egg butties from my friend’s pet chucks! Like I said, were all entitled to eat what we want…my daughter lives with me as my carer, she eats meat (particularly McDonald’s) I may not like it, but I don’t take offence at it & make her eat it in another room! When she does cook, she just substitutes the meat for Quorn, it makes a lovely spaghetti bolognese, which even she a meat eater, enjoy’s!
EARTHLINGS is an award-winning documentary film about the suffering of animals for food, fashion, pets, entertainment and medical research. Considered the most persuasive documentary ever made, EARTHLINGS is nicknamed the Vegan maker for its sensitive footage shot at animal shelters, pet stores, puppy mills, factory farms, slaughterhouses, the leather and fur trades, sporting events, circuses and research labs. The film is narrated by Academy Award® nominee Joaquin Phoenix and features music by platinum-selling recording artist Moby.
Initially ignored by distributors, today EARTHLINGS is considered the definitive animal rights film by organizations around the world. “Of all the films I have ever made, this is the one that gets people talking the most,” said Phoenix. “For every one person who sees EARTHLINGS, they will tell three.”
In 1999, writer/producer/director Shaun Monson began work on a series of PSAs about spaying and neutering pets. The footage he shot at animal shelters around Los Angeles affected him so profoundly that the project soon evolved into EARTHLINGS. The film would take another six years to complete because of the difficulty in obtaining footage within these profitable industries. Though the film was initially ignored by distributors, who told Monson that the film would “never see the light of day and should be swept under the rug,” today EARTHLINGS is considered the definitive animal rights film by organizations around the world.
Nation Earth was established to produce documentary films on socially urgent issues. EARTHLINGS, released in 2005, was the company’s first feature film and is the first of a documentary trilogy. The company is currently at work on the second installment, UNITY, which will explore the unifying force of consciousness found in nature, animals and humankind. UNITY is scheduled to be completed in 2010. For more information please see http://www.unitythemovement.com.
Earthlings is a feature length documentary about humanity’s absolute dependence on animals (for pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research). Earthlings illustrates human’s disrespect for “non-human providers”, it is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix and features music by Moby.
You can download the full version of Earthlings at http://www.earthlings.com. The film is available with subtitles in 10 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Hindi, Arabic and Portuguese
There are many farm animals, who endure their whole lives in stinking , horrific conditions, from birth to slaughter! Don’t get me wrong, some owners treat their animals as if they were pets, but this is mainly on the smaller family run farms, where the owner probably has names for each pig or cow!!”
“However, it seems that small holdings are being driven out, as the big guns come in, wanting to build bigger factory farms, that can handle thousands of animals a day! They don’t care much about the well-being of the animals or the environment…just the profits they can make from them!
As if that is not bad enough… there will always be farm workers who see fit to direct their anger at these sentient beings…there going to die anyway; so who cares if one is targeted & beaten? Well actually we all should, just because they are raised for human consumption, does not give anyone the right to abuse or harm them, in any way! I think all animal factories & slaughter houses, should have CCTV…where inspectors can call unannounced to view the tapes…If all areas are covered properly by cameras, hopefully it might stop a lot of abuse towards the animals, from the bullies…there is always one who thinks it’s funny to stub a cigarette out on a pigs face & roughly handle the babies…anyone who harms a defenceless animal is just a pathetic coward!!
“I am blue in the face, having said for so many years, any animal source should have reference to a Animal Abuse Registry…Its so dam simple, I don’t know what the hold up is, one person writes the program/ software & each animal establishment installs in onto their computers. Not hard, then all people need to do is enter details of abusers when it comes to court etc. Then shelter for instance looks up persons name from driving licence (has to be fool proof) if their name is in database…they get no animals & an alert is put on the system that that person has tried to acquire an animal! It would save so many lives, & it’s so easy to do! I used to write bespoke programs for companies…but that was when my brain functioned properly 😆
They are our best friends, our family members, our sidekicks, and we would do anything for them.
But sadly, not everyone treats their pets with as much respect, and for those unfortunate animals that find themselves in homes where they are abused, protection is needed.
In response to the heart wrenching and disturbing video of a Harlemman violently kicking his dog in an elevator, City Council has proposed much needed legislation to protect these defenceless and yet still loyal animals.
Though 28 year old Brian Freeman was arrested and charged with torturing an animal, the damage has been done, and there is no legal mechanism in place to prevent it from re-occurring with another animal. “We want to keep defenseless animals out of the hands of known abusers,” said Council Member Peter Vallone, who is co-sponsoring the legislation.”Right here in Astoria, we had a punk who threw his dog out of a window, and right now there’s nothing stopping him from going to an animal shelter and adopting a puppy.”
This legislation involves a registry which shelters would be required to checkbeforegiving pets to prospective owners. If a name appears on the list that person would be unable to adopt. The legislation unfortunately does not cover pet stores, however it does make it more difficult for offenders to purchase pets.
A first offence leads to a 5 year ban on pet adoption, and for a subsequent offence the name of the perpetrator would be on the list for 10 years. Crimes that would result in inclusion in the registry include among others, animal fighting, abandonment, aggravated cruelty and failure to provide proper sustenance.
Some would say that even this is not enough, that known abusers should never be allowed to have another pet, but it does send a big message. Pets are faithful, love us unconditionally, regularly protect us from danger, and should be protected from all harm.
WHITE COUNTY, AR – Investigators have charged a White County woman with 25 counts of animal cruelty but found something unexpected when they arrived at her home Wednesday.
Empty bags of dog food. Trash everywhere, covered with animal waste. White County detectives this afternoon converging on a house 126 Crystal Creek Road west of Searcy. They found dog chains, cages, a few chickens, but no dogs.
“We’re very active about pursuing people who are treating animals in a cruel way and right now we’re wanting to make sure these dogs are being taken care of in a way they’re supposed to be taken care of,” Cpl Steve Hernandez says.
Investigators believe there were several dogs in the pens yesterday because a detective saw them. Where they’re at now, that’s the big question.
“Through an investigation, if we’re going to come out and actually get the animals ourselves, we’ve never showed up and within 24 hours, 25 dogs are gone,” Hernandez says.
Now investigators want to find Lisa Burnett. Detectives say the 23-yea old was arrested and convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty three years ago.
Now she’s under investigation again after detectives picked up an anonymous tip of dogs not getting enough food and suffering in poor health.
“Right now, we don’t know if she is trying to do the right thing and take care of the dogs or she is trying to hide the dogs from us and continue what she was doing,” Hernandez says.
The goal now, find her and the dogs alive.
Detectives say Burnett could face an additional charge of hindering an investigation if its learned she is intentionally concealing the location of the dogs.
SEARCY, Ark. (KTHV) — White County officials say a Searcy woman faces 25 counts of animal cruelty for allegedly running a puppy mill.
Deputies say a tip led them to believe Lisa Burnett, 23, was running a puppy mill out of her home on Crystal Creek Road.
According to the report, authorities found several small dogs, many with mange. Deputies decided to confiscate all of the dogs Tuesday in order to get them proper treatment.
When deputies and a Bald KnobAnimal Control Officer arrived 24 hours later Burnett, all the dogs and their cages were missing. “(Bald knob Animal Control Officer…lol…I didn’t write that)”
The sheriff’s department believes Burnett may not be giving the dogs the care that they need and possibly continuing the cruelty to the dogs.
Animal cruelty is a felony. Burnett has been charged with this same crime in 2008 and was convicted in 2009.
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
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PLEASE NOTE.....
Not all of my posts will be current news, or even about animal abuse! I do like to share other animal news, uplifting stories or videos; some that are funny or just touch the heart!
If I have anything to say on any post, you will see it in bold blue writing. I try to remain a lady, but it's hard to contain my anger & emotions at the some of the stories I post; I don’t have a heart of stone, tears stain many articles I write!
Lastly, my apologies for any errors; I am learning whilst posting, so if you find anything that doesn't work or a broken link, sorry, I'm only human!!!!
ABOUT THESE POSTS
I would just like to make readers aware, that I search for stories on the internet; regards animal abuse etc. I copy stories etc. from the internet; assuming these stories are correct at time of publishing. Having said that, sometimes the press get it wrong! So I just want to add that at the time of me posting a news story, I presume all the facts seem present & correct.
Please note....all people mentioned in this blog, are presumed innocent, until proven otherwise, in a court of law.
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DUE TO ANIMAL HATERS...I WILL ONLY ADD PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVE WHO THEY ARE via Facebook, Wordpress, Twitter etc. & WHO HAVE A GENUINE INTEREST IN ANIMAL WELFARE... i.e. if your Facebook page has absolutely nothing to do with animals, I see no point in joining my page. My Facebook is solely for animal welfare, I am not interested in playing games etc. I don't mean to sound rude but I am not interested in the amount of friends I have, its the quality of those friends that count.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND REQUESTS FOR YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN. I do not want anyone to be upset by graphic images etc.
My aim is to educate & raise awareness to the horrors animals face, at the hands of humans, every day, around the world!!
We can not hope to achieve better laws, to protect animals, unless we unite as one, to speak up for those who are voiceless!!
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DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
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